The Prevalence of Road Rage Explained

 Posted on October 12, 2022 in Car Accident

Road rage incidents are greatly on the rise and have been for over a year. These emotion-driven incidents can result in deadly accidents or even intentional assaults. Drivers with road rage may be unable to make logical decisions after considering the probable consequences of the course of action they are contemplating. Road rage drivers who cause an accident with injuries may appear calm very quickly after the car accident, or they may continue behaving aggressively until forced into compliance by the police. While many drivers who harm someone out of anger quickly regret their actions, their victims are left with injuries that could affect their way of life for years to come. If you have been injured in a road rage incident, you may be entitled to recover significant compensation from the driver who caused your injuries. An attorney may be able to guide you through the process of filing a claim and collecting the finances you are owed.

Understanding Why Road Rage is Rising

The explanation for the current rise in road rage incidents is multi-faceted. Many relate back to the pandemic when most individuals worked from home for the first time and the roads were generally clear for those still required to commute. Essential personnel who never stopped commuting to work may have become conditioned to the low flow of traffic seen at the height of lockdowns before office buildings began to reopen.

For a person accustomed to making their daily commute in ten minutes due to the absence of normal traffic, the return of heavy rush hour traffic may have been immensely frustrating - now their commute takes 30 minutes. Although their commute may have also taken 30 minutes prior to the pandemic, readjusting can be difficult. However, this is by no means an excuse to take out the frustration of a slowed commute on other people who happen to also be caught in the same condensed traffic, as is a common explanation for road rage incidents.

Additionally, for many individuals, this is a time of economic stress. There are widespread disputes between the labor market and employers. Housing costs have skyrocketed, as have many other costs of living - importantly, including the cost of gasoline. For drivers on tight budgets, being caught in extra traffic or even being momentarily slowed down by a discourteous if nonnegligent driver, therefore using extra gas, can be infuriating. This can spark road rage.

While this information may in part explain the prevalence of road rage incidents, it by no means excuses or justifies drivers who fail to regulate their emotions and ultimately cause harm to other people. Pursuing compensation against road rage drivers can hold them accountable and dissuade them from taking similar actions in the future.

Call a Larimer County Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured by a road rage driver, Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. may be able to recover substantial compensation on your behalf. Our caring Fort Collins car accident attorneys will fight to win you the settlement or award you deserve after suffering injuries at the hands of an unreasonably infuriated driver. Call 970-225-2190 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/road-rage-statistics/